Property management

Tenants increasingly attach importance to sustainability and now also take initiatives themselves. Wereldhave Belgium is pleased with these developments and encourages sustainability suggestions from its tenants. Active shopping centre management provides opportunities to improve the sustainability of the retail portfolio. In 2011, Wereldhave Belgium connected energy meters to an energy management system for a substantial part of the portfolio.

‘Measuring is knowledge’ and therewith the start of active energy management. The platform registers 15 minute energy-use values, which are used to distinguish the various energy consumption profiles and to analyse energy consumption during the course of the day. The system became operational during the third quarter of 2011, but the first analyses show interesting results. As from the end of 2012, it will become possible to determine a carbon footprint of all energy procured by Wereldhave Belgium using the energy management system, since the data is based on the actual energy use. Wereldhave Belgium procures 100% green energy. Solar panels will be placed at the extension of Nivelles shopping centre. With the procurement of green energy and the installation of sustainable energy sources, Wereldhave Belgium already pushed back its carbon footprint considerably, even before the metering has started.

In 2011 Wereldhave Belgium made a first step in the field of waste management of buildings in the portfolio. Tenants are also involved in the waste segregation. New bins were placed for the separation of waste in different flows. Retailers will be confronted actively with the analysis of energy consumption, aiming for cooperation. Greenleases will be applied, including a sustainable fitting out. All the new tenants of the 12,500 m² newly developed extension of the Nivelles shopping centre signed a (light) greenlease in 2011.

Although over the last few years a lot of progress has been achieved, further improvement will always remain possible.
‘Value for tomorrow’ starts with taking responsibility today.